Ravel's Introduction and Allegro in Building a Library with Jeremy Sams and Andrew McGregor
A trawl through the best of this the week's classical music releases, and in Building a Library, Jeremy Sams chooses his favourite recording of Ravel's Introduction and Allegro.
with Andrew McGregor
9.30 Building a Library
Jeremy Sams chooses his favourite recording of Ravel Introduction & Allegro for harp, flute, clarinet and string quartet.
In turn-of-the-century Paris harp wars raged between two rival harp manufacturers. But what could have been an arcane foot note in the history of an often dull solo instrument left the repertoire enriched by two of the leading French composers of the day. Claude Debussy's 1904 Danses sacrée et profane for solo harp was written for Pleyel. A year later Maurice Ravel's commission came from the firm of Érard and the result was his Introduction & Allegro 'pour Harpe avec accompagnement de Quatuor à cordes, Flûte et Clarinette', as the score puts it. Ravel's genius is in the amazing variety he gets out of the 'accompanying' instruments, from the barest whisper to the richest and most sumptuous textures. And whatever the relative merits of Ravel's and Debussy's music, of the two it's Ravel's Introduction & Allegro which has become the most frequently recorded repertoire staple (and it was the Érard instrument which triumphed over its rival).
10.15
Record of the Week: an outstanding new release.
Last on
Music Played
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Anton Bruckner
Ave Maria
Choir: MDR Leipzig Radio Choir. Conductor: Philipp Ahmann.- Motets: Music by Anton Bruckner; Michael Haydn.
- PENTATONE.
- 7.
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Joseph Haydn
Piano Sonata No. 52 in G major, Hob. XVI:39 III. Prestissimo
Performer: Jean-Efflam Bavouzet.- Haydn: Piano Sonatas Vol. 9.
- CHANDOS.
- 15.
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Claudio Monteverdi
Dal mio Permesso amato (Prologue: L'Orfeo, SV 318)
Singer: Anna Lucia Richter. Ensemble: Ensemble Claudiana. Director: Luca Pianca.- Monteverdi: Il Delirio Della Passione.
- PENTATONE.
- 1.
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György Ligeti
Études for Piano, Book 1: IV. Fanfares
Performer: Danny Driver.- Ligeti: The 18 Études.
- Hyperion.
- 4.
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Sergey Prokofiev
Violin Concerto No. 1 in D major, Op. 19: II. Scherzo. Vivacissimo
Performer: Hilary Hahn. Orchestra: Orchestre philharmonique de Radio France. Conductor: Mikko Franck.- Hilary Hahn - Paris.
- Deutsche Gammophon.
- 3.
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George Frideric Handel
Brockes-Passion, HWV 48 [opening]
Performer: Jonathan Cohen. Singer: Sandrine Piau. Singer: Stuart Jackson. Singer: Konstantin Krimmel. Choir: Vocal Consort. Ensemble: Arcangelo.- Handel: Brockes-Passion.
- ALPHA.
- 1-8.
Record Review
9.00am
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Motets: Music by Anton Bruckner and Michael Haydn
MDR Leipzig Radio Choir
Philipp Ahmann (director)
Pentatone PTC5186868 (hybrid SACD)
Ìý
Haydn: Piano Sonatas Vol. 9
Jean-Efflam Bavouzet (piano)
Chandos CHAN20131
Ìý
Monteverdi: Il Delirio Della Passione
Anna Lucia Richter (soprano)
Ensemble Claudiana
Luca Pianca (director)
Pentatone PTC5186845
Ìý
Ligeti: The 18 Études
Danny Driver (piano)
Hyperion CDA68286
Ìý
Hilary Hahn – Paris: Music by Chausson, Prokofiev and Rautavaara
Hilary Hahn (violin)
Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France
Mikko Franck (conductor)
Deutsche Grammophon 4839847
https://www.deutschegrammophon.com/en/catalogue/products/paris-hilary-hahn-12227
Ìý
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9.30am – Building a Library – Jeremy Sams on Ravel’s Introduction and Allegro, M.46
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Recommended Recording:
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Emannuel Pahud (flute)
Wenzel Fuchs (clarinet)
Marie-Pierre Langlamet (harp)
Christophe Horak (violin)
Simon Roturier (violin)
Ignacy Miecznikowski (viola)
Bruno Delepaire (violoncello)
Indésens INDE139
Ìý
Also recommended:
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James Galway (flute)
Richard Stoltzman (clarinet)
Heidi Lehwalder (harp)
Tokyo String Quartet
RCA RCA62552
Ìý
Ìý
Melos Ensemble
Decca 4602472
Ìý
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Ìý
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10.16am – Record of the Week
Ìý
Handel: Brockes-Passion
Sandrine Piau (soprano)
Stuart Jackson (tenor)
Konstantin Krimmel (baritone)
Arcangelo
Jonathan Cohen (harpsichord/director)
Alpha ALPHA644 (2 CDs)
Broadcast
- Sat 13 Mar 2021 09:00Â鶹ԼÅÄ Radio 3
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